MARKETS + SHIRTS
The empire began when I was in 5th grade and decided that my life’s mission was to own a bakery, Everyday Cupcakes. After seeing how much standing bakers do, I decided to let that idea go. Instead, I started a screen printing company in 2020, my junior year of high school, which then blossomed into a promising career in apparel design. Later on, I took a leap of faith and launched my sticker and temp tatt business the summer of 2021 where I started attending markets. I then had a dream one night about cakes and boxes, and here we are today! I’ve sold my cakes in multiple stores, my first and true love, Hello Sunshine Art + Vintage, and have been in countless markets, most notably the Portland Night Market.
FAKE CAKES + MORE!
These babies are what I’m known for! It started as a screen printing business and expanded to stickers, keychains, magnets, fake cake boxes and more.
What’s a fake cake? Good question! They’re wooden boxes piped with spackle and adorned with beads to give ya a forever cake!
SISTERS SHIRTS 2021 - 2023
My boyfriend’s family has a vacation house in Sisters, Oregon. Naturally, the year that I was invited, I needed some “tacky” couples shirts. What is not depicted is the original one, expertly crafted to say “catch of the day” referring to both me and my boyfriend that was horribly tie dyed. Moving right along, everyone wanted to be part of this now tradition, so the annual Sisters shirt has only grown in membership.
2022: Summer camp romance
2023: Ghost stories and mahjong
HOLIDAY SHIRTS 2020 - 2023
I’m not someone who buys holiday gear, but since I knew how to screen print, I wanted to create my own merch for this occasion!
2020: The ghost of Christmas past helping raise another generation
2021: The table at your local holiday party
2022: Eloise goes to The Nutcracker!
2023: A good ol’ game of mahjong and 12 days of Christmas
2024: Use hot glue for your gingerbread houses <3
(shown in reverse order)
MAD IS ON SOCCER CAREER 2022
The legend goes, Christiano Reynaldo winked at my mom over the TV, and when my sister was born, she had a penchant for kicking a ball. Later, it turned into defending, but that’s neither here nor there. From there, she had a soccer career where she traveled states, played in Providence Park, captained, coached and even played for a semi-pro league. So when it became my sister’s final game we needed shirts to commemorate this lifelong career. Inspired by concert tees, we have the “Mad Is On,” one game only shirt with easter eggs representing teams past.
LONELY HEARTS CLUB 2020
Contrary to popular belief, I had never heard of “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club.” So now that that’s out of the way, this was the shirt that kicked off the Natalie Pastores Empire! This is what pooling in all of your Christmas money and a can-do attitude can get ya: a blossoming small business right before the pandemic!
MINORITIES SUPPORT MINORITIES 2020
Speaking of pandemics, the “Minorities Support Minorities” shirt was made in response to the increase of police brutality against black people, the rise of the BLM movement and the xenophobia that was taking over the nation in 2020. I wanted 2 things: a) to use my skills to help where I could and b) a shirt to protest in. So here we have the birth of my go to protesting shirt. A portion of the funds went into Black Girls Code to help foster the STEM spirit for black girls.